Blogging - Part Five: Trying to Understand the Psychology Behind It All

For many years while in high tech as a CTO, I waspeople would NEVER consider SAYING out loud what
fascinated by the development and progression ofthey typed - say at a party of friends or a dinner or a
chat systems from their very first appearance insocial gathering.The Internet makes us free with our
Internet land. Though this was not part of my normalthoughts. It allows us freedom that we don't otherwise
everyday running of any of the companies that Ihave, to reveal our "other-side". The reasons for this
worked with, it became a hobby of mine. I also gaveare many, not the least of which that we are behind a
seminars around the world, entitled, "The Technologicalscreen. No on can see our facial expressions (not
Advance and Psychological Effects of Chattalking about cams here - a whole different subject) or
Systems". These led me to use the term "viralour body language. Most important - we cannot be
technology". (This has nothing to do with computerphysically touched. There is always that barrier. And it
viruses - though the way it works is somewhat thewould be well to keep that in mind.To be sure there is
same.) The seminars then advanced to "Understandingthe downside of all this. Fakers, charlatans, people
The Nature of Viral Systems on the Internet".In theacting as someone from the other gender - horror
next few posts I am going to try and explain all this,stories galore. However, one thing cannot be denied:
and why it is so important to understand that in such(This is not the place to discuss this issue. It is worthy
seemingly simple things as getting a blog up, workingof probably a few hundred articles in and of itself. So I
and making it popular. Viral Technology, is an importantwill leave it for now with just the chapter heading.)The
factor here. We have until this point have onlyInternet has created a whole new psychological study
"scratched the tip of the iceberg" as the cliche goes.of the human mind and the way it works. And this is
And there are so many things to understand and dealCRITICAL to understanding why some things, some
with. However, being a writer and author, first andsites, some blogs - make it, while others, seemingly so
foremost, my mind works on different very illogicalmuch better and so much more savvy fall by the
connections at times. What I am going to try to get atwayside. Obviously we want our blog to "make it".One
in the next couple of posts is an understanding of howof the greatest original "pull" and "attractions" of blogs
the circle of content-SE's works, and what is importantis the ability for many to get out their "private" thoughts
here. I think by way of examples and using "real life"to the world at large in a journal or diary manner. They
understanding on the virtual Internet, we can get acan reveal what they would be too scared or too shy
better grasp of what is going on and what it is not.It isto reveal with words and lips and mouth in a public
critical to understand that we are not only dealing withsetting of individuals all sitting around a table. Though, I
technology here. We are dealing with psychology andfor one, do not enjoy or visit blogs of this nature, it
the Internet has a way of digging deep down intoremains true that most blogger's are doing just that.
individual motivations and actions. Let me first give youAnd what is more important to understand, is that
an example I found to be incredibly interesting andmany of the blogger's do not care how many hits they
totally revealing.On one of the forum boards Iget. It is the catharsis of getting it out. The act of
sometimes log into, which is populated by a seriousputting it "out there:" that is all important.Since we are
and highly intelligent (for the most part) group of people,dealing with technology and the desire to build a blog
there are threads for just joking or ranting, as therethat WILL GET A FOLLOWING and hits, we must
are on all other Forums. Since many are "virtual"understand what motivates and interests people to
friends these threads are populated by people whocome to and read what we are posting and saying.
banter, give and take, and joke around from time toWe must understand the WHY? as well as the How?
time to take time off from the vicissitudes of life.This certainly will lead to a much more comprehensive
Sometimes members ask for serious advice in regardunderstanding of the motivations of our members and
to family and children etc. Now one such member,visitors to our blogs.The next article in this series deals
discovered that her young son had developed anwith a definition of "Viral Technologies" and from there
incredible interest (or so she thought) in her "boobs".we will have a greater understanding as to how to
She wanted to know if this was normal, for a child ofbegin to spread the word of our blogs with methods
that age to discover the difference between sexes.that apply the technological and psychological.
So she began a thread on the topic. And the threadRemember though this is not mathematical science. It
developed. At first serious, but of course, sinceis just one of the ways to understanding what is going
everyone there are "virtual" friends the joking started.on. It is not foolproof nor does it always work. But it will
What was interesting to follow, is that both Males andpossibly give us a deeper understanding of the "virtual
Females started in joking ways of course, to describeworld" we sometimes live in, and probably more
either the size of their chests and/or how they liked orimportantly, a better understanding of ourselves.This
disliked the male population looking at them of if theyarticle is already published here at and you can read it
wanted their breasts smaller or larger etc. The malesby going to: Viral Systems & Technologies - What Are
revealed the size of their wives and girl-friends chestsThey?Copyright © 2006 Ted W. Gross. All rights
and other such what one might call normally "intimate"reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety
knowledge. Some even said: "My (wife or husband orwith the following author's information with live links
boyfriend or girlfriend) would not be happy if theyonly.)
knew I was writing about this". All of this was done in aTed W. Gross's very popular blog, Cobwebs Of The
semi-serious and joking manner.What was interestingMind contains daily updated posts and articles on
is that I am 100% sure, some people would type out atechnology and writing. He also owns Amor
response, post it, and then say to themselves, "Did IEnterprises which maintains Virgin Earth Article
really say that in PUBLIC???" I am willing to bet, basedSubmissions which is designed to accept articles about
upon experience and studies, that many of theseany country or place in the world.